Monday, January 18, 2016

Welcome Suzanne de Montigny

First up is the obligatory question. When did you first begin
writing?

About nine years ago. Well, that’s not
actually true. I loved writing as a kid and wrote my first novella in grade 6.
But then life got in the way, and I forgot about writing until I was 47.

2: Seems to happen to all of us. So, tell
us, what inspired you to write?

My dear old dad died of a very dreadful
type of cancer, the kind you get from breathing in asbestos. It was a slow, horrible
death, and when I came through the other end, I had this tremendous need to
write. I remember at his funeral saying, “I feel like writing a book,” over and
over again. I like to think he put the idea in my head from the other side.

3: I’m so sorry about your dad, but I
believe he did put the idea in your head. Tell us, what doyou like the most and
least about writing?

I love pushing words around on the page. I
hate marketing. It steals time away from my writing and my family.

4: I seem to get similar answers from all
authors, me included. What do you for fun
and relaxation when not writing?

Glad you asked. You see, I have this child
that lives within that doesn’t want to stop playing. I learned to snowboard at
47 and am crazy about the sport. I also play fiddle.

5: Fascinating! Playing the fiddle I might
be able to learn, but I’m afraid I’m beyond snowboarding. Which authors do you like to read?

I just finished reading the Harry Potter
series, so JK Rowling is definitely on my favourite list. Then there’s Stuart
R. West. If you haven’t read any of his stuff, you simply must. He’s hilarious!
I mean ROFL hilarious. His latest novel, Bad Day in Banana Hammock had me
bursting out into giggles so loud my family asked me to keep quiet. Apart from
him, I like Kurt Vonnegut too as well as James Thurber and Lucy Maude
Montgomery.

6: I’m afraid I’ve not read any of those
authors. I’ll have to put them on my
list. Tell
us the one thing you’d most like people to know about you?

I have dreadful vision and have had several
surgeries to my eyes. That’s why I donate half of my proceeds from my Shadow of
the Unicorn series to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye
specialists who travel to third world countries delivering thousands of pairs
of used eyeglasses and performing surgery for free. It was thought, a few years
back, that I was developing macular degeneration. But because I live in Canada,
I had such excellent care that today I can see fairly well. So why not return
the favour, right? Pay it forward. Actually, when I do author visits, I collect
used eyeglasses from the kids.

7: That’s fantastic. I’m glad your vision
is better and what a worthy cause. Tell us about your current novel, where I
can find it and your website/blog.

Books We Love has just relaunched Shadow of
the Unicorn: The Legacy which became a bestseller on the first day! Book 2, The
Deception will be released on Feb. 14th. And I’m presently
negotiating my novel, A Town Bewitched.

Here are the blurbs:

Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy:

Azaria, a unicorn
colt, is intrigued when the young, clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a
terrifying change to their world. When a giant fireball smashes into the

earth,
the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. But
nothing compares to the danger when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle
in the valley, and their leader discovers the healing power in the unicorns’
horns. Greedy and ruthless, Ishmael will stop at nothing in his pursuit of
wealth – even the complete extinction of the herd. Azaria must find a way to
outsmart Ishmael before it’s too late.

Shadow of the Unicorn: The Deception:

Sixty years aftertheunicorns’ narrow escape from extinction, Azaria's Legacy has gone wrong.
The new generation barely exists, hidden in the depths of the forest.
Their cruel and ruthless leader, Icarus, threatens
them daily with Jaresh, an invisible being capable of taking away their powers.
Angry, the young colt Ulysees and his friend Téo rebel, following an old,
abandoned trail where they’re discovered by humans. Now the entire herd must
flee. But Ulysees learns there’s a far greater danger than humans when he meets
a giant creaturewho
warns himof impending doom…

8: Great! Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Write what impassions you and be a
perfectionist.

9: Great advice. Do you base your
characters on real-life people?

Oftentimes, but not necessarily. Many of my
characters have a bit of this person, a bit of that person, etc. And of course,
a lot of me.

10: Seems to be the consensus with most
authors. Where do you get your ideas and what inspired you to write this book?

My ideas are
always swimming around in my head. This series was based on the novella I wrote
back in grade 6. I actually intended it as an exercise when I began writing. I
didn’t expect it to go anywhere at all.

11: We never know when an idea will turn
into something more. I love when that happens. What are you currently working on?

Why, book 3, of course. Shadow of the
Unicorn: The Revenge. Here’s the blurb.

Born deep in the
forest, far from the others, Damien is kept a dark secret by his parents until
his father, Samuel, decides the colt must join the herd to be initiated. But
the unicorns are horrified by Damien’s birth defect. They see him as a freak
despite his astonishing abilities. Then when Samuel is pushed to his death by a
rival, Damien’s talents turn deadly. Can anyone stop him before he destroys
their world?

12. I should have known. LOL Is there anything else you’d like
us to know about you?